The Last Scare.

Patea Mail, 26 April 1882, Page 3

The Last Scare.

Confidence on the West Coast- is strengthened by Mr Bryce’s re-appoint-ment to the management of Native Affairs. If he will hold that office three ;; years, and will carry out the policy of Crown-granting tho native reserves and leasing them (with native consent) by public auctibn, the work of peace will be practically completed on this Coast, without violence or ill-will. By that time the Te Whili fanaticism will be dead, or powerless for mischief amid so much prosperous settlement of the. land.

The colony has just had a brief lesson showing how easy, it would be to restore the old trouble at Parihaka.by dismissing Mr Bryce from office. Time "is needed to.wean the natives from their still lingering folly, and teach them the practical wisdom of respecting the law, living quietly on rents as owners of leased reserves. They are now wealthy, landowners, or will be when their lately Crown-granted reserves are put up for lease ;by public auction, and the rents received regularly through a Government office. This now system of renting the native reserves is a panacea for much of the discontent lately shown by native grievance-mongers. A regular rental is like a ponsiou—a safe thing to depend on, and a relief from uncertainty. Natives who already draw rents are exactly those who show,most content. If the Parihaka reserves be leased, like the rest, the soothing charm of a regular rental will conciliate those followers of Te Whiti who have learnt the emptiness of his prophetic foretellings, and who will soon taste the lordly sweets of: landlord-ism. Two or .three years of leasing and steady rentals will work a quiet charm on this Coast, and remove all anxiety about the future. The native question is a simple problem, when the right solution is tried.